NO. 2-2012 ENGLISH

12•121 WfWe focus on the 50th anniversary of the Åland Art Museum in 2013 with the issue of a stamp presenting Guy Frisk’s painting Yearning.

14 • S/S Ålandsfärjan to be featured on a stamp in the passenger series in February.

WITHWITH AA PREFERENCEPREFERENCE FORFOR THETHE

SURREAL 18 • BLBo Lundwall d ll SURREAL is the artist behind a WWF booklet depicting four different species of water birds.

posten.ax 2 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN WWF bird trilogy Our fi rst WWF stamps featured Eagle Owls (1996), then came Steller’s Eiders (2001), and it is now time for Åland’s third booklet of WWF stamps featuring water birds. On 5 April 2013, we issue four exquisite stamps featuring two types of loons and two types of grebes, all painted by Bo Lundwall, one of the most renowned bird illustrators in . The idea of having loons on stamps originated from Finnish loon enthusiast Sandi Fuchs, who has been drawing our attention to this bird species for some years. An extra feather in our cap is the WWF label on this stamp issue. With hundreds of lakes in Åland, most in the northern parts, people interested in water birds can study a large variety of species here, some of which are now to be featured on stamps. nita äggblom DIRECTOR ÅLAND POST STAMPS

2•2012

ÅLAND POST LTD STAMPS P.O. Box 1100 AX-22111 ÅLAND, Contents

TELEPHONE EDITORS Editorial 2 From Finland: 018 636 639 Anita Häggblom From abroad: Katja Rikberg News 3 +358 18 636 641 Heidemarie Eriksson Versatile Jonas 4 Telephone hours: Björn Wennström Mon–Fri 9.00–16.00 Cecilia Mattsson Sheep in spring 11 In July Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00 TEXT Åland Art Museum 50 years 12 FAX Katja Rikberg S/S Ålandsfärjan 14 From Finland: TRANSLATION 018 636 608 Kristine Lybeck Sund The Post supports Pink Ribbon 16 From abroad: +358 18 636 608 LAYOUT Long-tailed Duck decoys 17 Cecilia Mattsson INTERNET From robins to elephants 18 www.posten.ax PRODUCTION Nordic stamps: Posten Åland Ab Christmas seals help 23 www.topoftheworld.nu Waasa Graphics 2012 First Day Covers 24 E-MAIL COVER PHOTO [email protected] John Häggblom 2012 Exhibition Cards 25 VISITING ADDRESS 2012 Special Cancellations 26 Flygfältsvägen10 Sviby, Jomala Calendar 27 We reserve the right to change the information contained in this publication. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 3 NEWS

hange of telephone number Our service number 020 340 020, previously available to our customers in Finland, was CHRISTMAS CANCEL discontinued on 1 June. Customers in Finland may now contact Åland Post Stamps on phone A special Christmas cancel will be available for number 018 636 639. your Christmas greetings and letters sent from Åland even this year. In use from 15 November to 31 December 2012, the cancel with a Christmas motif is applied just like any ordinary date cancel. Send your self-addressed covers for cancellation in a cover marked “Christmas cancellation” to: Åland Post Stamps, P.O. Box 1100, AX-22111 MARIEHAMN, Åland, Finland. Remember to frank your covers with Åland stamps.

State e-mail address, win a package

To stay up-to-date with our current offers, news and events, we advise you to please send us your e-mail address. When doing so, you take part in the draw for 5 secret parcels holding philatelic products for around €50! Send your e-mail address to [email protected] no later than 31 December 2012. Write ”Secret parcel” in the subject fi eld. The winners will be informed individually and published on our homepage www.posten.ax. 4 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

s an established full-time artist in Åland, onas ilén has accomplished a great variety of projects over the last 20 years, some of which are stamps, book illustrations, scenography and a fountain. till, he has many ideas he wishes to realize in the future; his vision of a stamp motif is rather original. VERSATILE JONAS

Artist Jonas Wilén originally comes from Eckerö but now lives with his family in Mariehamn. However, his studio, his exhibition hall and his frame workshop remain in Eckerö. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 5

So far Jonas Wilén has created six stamps for Åland end, we decided on this. Now, afterwards, I see that Post as well as a number of philatelic products, the style resembles that of my uncle Tage’s (Tage including this year’s exhibition cards on a coat of arms Wilén, painter), a style which was also requested.” theme. Together with Jonas, we took a closer look at the stamps and asked him to give his views on them. CIRCUS (EUROPA), ISSUED IN 2002 “I was keen on presenting a positive image of the MIDSUMMER CELEBRATION (EUROPA), ISSUED IN 1998 circus on this stamp, and decided to do an elephant. “This was my fi rst stamp and the Post’s instructions However, circus animals is a sensitive topic, so I were clear. I made quite a few sketches and, in the chose to paint a young and lively elephant, JOHN HÄGGBLOM 6 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

veryone keeps developing

imagining that it was likely to be released after its performance,” Jonas playfully relates, but with an undertone of seriousness.

HOLIDAY (EUROPA), ISSUED IN 2004 “This was a freer theme and I made quite a few different sketches, all of them involving a boat in a natural harbour.”

OLYMPIC GAMES, ISSUED IN 2004 “The regulations applying to the issue of an Olympic stamp are quite strict; the Olympic rings in particular may not be treated any way you like, Jonas has so far created 6 stamps for Åland Post. so the stamp must be checked and approved by the His fi rst stamp was issued in 1998. Olympic Committee. But it was really fun doing the Olympic stamp and I found the motif rather challenging. It wasn’t easy to depict a large stadium in such a small format.” a fact that I quite appreciated. Nobody could double-check it against old photos or the like.” GIRLS’ FOOTBALL, ISSUED IN 2007

“I enjoyed creating the Girls’ football stamp. As a NOTICES A DEVELOPMENT former football player, I found it amusing to illus- Looking back on his own stamp production, he trate a dodge,” Jonas explains. He did not have to notices an artistic development and clearly recog- do any research before realizing this motif – it was nizes the difference between his fi rst stamp in 1998 all in his head already. and his latest issued in 2009. “I’m most pleased with the motif of the stamp CINEMA 100 YEARS, ISSUED IN 2009 Cinema 100 years, and that feels good” he declares. “Given a free hand in connection with this stamp, I He admits that he will often fi nd errors in his decided to illustrate the fi rst fi lm kiss, using the hats previous work and knows that he would do things worn by the audience as a time marker.” differently today. “Since I couldn’t fi nd any references to the fi rst “Still, I accept it as a fact, everyone keeps devel- cinema in Åland I was free to create my own image, oping.” ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 7 JOHN HÄGGBLOM

Jonas works with both illustrations and paintings and, to be at his most creative, he prefers to maintain a balance between the two. 8 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

t was like icing on the cake having VIVID ILLUSTRATIONS A CHALLENGE to create such a different motif Jonas found this year’s exhibition cards featuring coats of arms surprisingly funny to make. “And yet, the creation of the motifs was strictly The process of creating stamps and exhibition regulated.” cards differs in a number of ways. Coats of arms not only consist of plane surfaces “Obviously, we’re talking of many motifs in the and colour blocks but also have structure, and the case of the cards, which I fi nd exciting. Working challenge was to make them appear vivid. with stamps, however, is more bound to tradition, Googling the cities for all the coats of arms, he hence more fun.” made certain efforts to cross-check the motifs. “The coats of arms of Paris and Essen, for exam- NO REGRETS ple, are very detailed and they required some extra Despite his young age, 38 years, Jonas has worked as attention as opposed to that of .” a full-time artist for some 20 years. His decision to Since Beijing does not have a coat of arms, Jonas commit full-time to being an artist was a combina- consulted with the Stamp Committee and decided tion of design and coincidence. to feature a dragon, seeing that 2012 is the Year of “I completed a 1-year course at the Basis School the Dragon. of Art in Stockholm in the beginning of the 1990s “It was like icing on the cake having to create and had planed to continue my studies. But in this such a different motif,” Jonas smiles. connection, I was invited to one exhibition after another and things started coming along nicely.” TRADITIONAL STAMP COMMISSIONS He doesn’t regret having decided to commit Jonas has painted exhibition cards previously. In whole-heartedly to his art. 2002, he created 10 cards depicting buildings. “Artists in general are extremely conservative and “I enjoyed fi nding landmarks for every city, unwilling to give up. Rather than quitting all together, painting them from a different angle.” we would rather take a job on the side if we must.” JOHN HÄGGBLOM

To also get a foothold in Stockholm and , Jonas dreams of having enough time to create a collection of paintings for presentation to galleries in these cities. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 9

PARIS SALON D’AUTOMNE 2012 JOHN HÄGGBLOM

HÄMEENLINNA TAVASTEX 2012

HELSINGFORSHELSINGFFORS FRIMÄRKSMÄSSANFRIM IMMÄÄRKSÄRKSMKSMÄMÄSS 2012 For every exhibition in which the Åland Post participates an exhibition stamp is also produced. The stamp motifs show details of the exhibition card motifs.

JONAS WILÉN

Artist Jonas Wilén was born in Eckerö in 1974. He started his career as a cartoonist and had his fi rst exhibition as early as in 1988. He has had a great many one-man exhibitions in Åland as well as in the other Nordic Countries. Jonas prefers to paint in oils on canvas and to work in various formats, with different themes as well as with both fi gu- rative and abstract motifs. He has also worked as an illustrator for the daily and weekly press and designed book covers, CDs and other publications and printed matters. For Åland Post Stamps, Jonas has previously designed the stamps “Midsummer celebra- tion” (1998), “Circus” (2002), “Holiday” (2004), “Olympic Games” (2004), “Girls’ football” We here present 4 of this year’s (2007) and “Cinema 100 years” 13 exhibition cards on a coat of (2009) as well as the 2002 exhi- arms theme. Seeing that Beijing bition cards. does not have a coat of arms, we chose to illustrate the 2012 Year of the Dragon on the Beijing card. 10 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN JOHN HÄGGBLOM

Jonas’ dream motif is an animal stamp and he would love to invent new animal species.

PREFERS COMBINATION Still, Jonas has had exhibitions in all the Nordic Today, he combines illustration and painting com- Countries as well as in Italy. missions, even if the illustration commissions tend Describing his ambition of presenting his art to to take over. the world as “a childish boy’s dream”, he claims that “It works best for me when I combine illustration he has never been good at speaking on behalf of and painting commissions; the two types of work himself. empower and vitalize one another. But it becomes “I’m defi nitely not a careerist; instead I’m more tedious if the illustration work takes over,” he prone to focus inwards than outwards in my work.” explains. In Åland, Jonas is an established and well-known He mostly works in oils and sketches, seeing artist, a fact which has given him the opportunity to sketching as the basis of everything. accept a variety of commissions such as illustrating “But I would love to do more sculptures. And I books, creating logotypes, designing scenography have recently purchased a graphics press and intend and building a permanent water fountain. to start working with it this winter. Working with graphics is quite similar to drawing, so I’m really WISHES TO CREATE ANIMAL MOTIF looking forward to that.” Jonas’ latest stamp was made in 2009 and he would like to design more stamps in the future. CHILDISH BOY’S DREAM “If my performance curve continues, I would Commissioned work tends to be rather governed enjoy creating an even better stamp. I fi nd it stimu- and, sometimes, Jonas wishes that he had more time lating to work in a small format such as a stamp.” to do uncommissioned paintings. His dream stamp would have an animal motif, “I dream of having time to do a collection of and he would love to invent new species of animals. paintings to present to various galleries outside of “I have a predilection for the surreal and slightly Åland, in Stockholm and Helsinki for example.” bizarre,” he explains with a smile. 4 ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 11

POSTAL STATIONERY, SPRING

DATE OF ISSUE 5 April 2013 ARTIST Ammi Krogius EDITION 3 x 8 000 Sheep in spring PRICE € 1.90/card € 5.70/set of 3 cards  he 2013 postal stationery cards will be issued in pril, since SIZE 105 x 148 mm spring is the theme of the three cards. he artist behind the PAPER cards, mmi rogius, is a new acquaintance for the readers Chromocard 240 g PRINTING METHOD of Ålandsposten. he has chosen sheep to symbolize spring. 4-colour offset

“I’ve always loved to paint sheep. I lived in southern France for 25 years, running a pottery shop with my husband. Even then, I painted sheep on lampshades, sculptures and carafes,” Ammi reminisces. She appreciates the fact that sheep are herd animals, just like man.

HUMOROUS TWIST The sheep on the cards are all laughing, behaving a bit mischievously. “I almost always keep a humorous note in my work. Creating sad motifs is simply not in my nature,” Ammi says. In addition to merry motifs for cards, for instance, Ammi also paints in a more unconstrained way. AMMI KROGIUS “It is not about abstract motifs, but more about what comes to me spontaneously,” she explains. 4 Artist Ammi Krogius was born in Sweden in 1947 but she grew up in Finland. She completed a 3-year ceramics education at the University School of Arts & Design in Helsinki. For 25 years, she lived in southern France where she ran a pottery shop together with her husband. Eventually, her hands were damaged from her work in the pottery; she changed tracks and took up painting in- stead. Ammi lives in Mariehamn since 1999. This is Ammi’s fi rst commission for Åland Post.

The postal stationery cards feature merry sheep enjoy- ing spring. Spring is also the source of inspiration for the postage paid symbol and the fi rst day cancel. 12 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

Åland Art Museum 50 years

he 50th anniversary of the Åland rt useum in 2013 will be marked with a stamp issue. he stamp motif was chosen through a public vote between seven pre-selected works of art from the museum collection.

A vote organized in the spring of 2012 allowed SPREADING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ÅLAND ART voters to choose between seven works of art by The Åland Art Society took the initiative to Henrik Nylund, Guy Frisk, Sigrid Granfelt, Robert establish an art museum in 1955. Two years later, Hancock, Hildur Stenbäck, Ture Bengtz and Johan the local government appointed an art purchasing Scott. An expert group had selected the seven works board and, together with the art society, the art of art that are all part of the art museum collection. board brought about a defi nite decision. The Åland Art Museum was founded in 1963. The museum

YEARNING WON WITH 42 PERCENT collection concentrates on art with an Åland con- Votes could be cast at the Åland Art Museum, on the nection in a wider sense and is supplemented every Post’s homepage and at the post offi ce in Mariehamn. year. The Åland Art Museum is owned and admin- Guy Frisk’s painting “Längtan” (Yearning) won with as istrated by the Government of Åland. Promoting much as 42 percent of the total of 1 582 votes cast. knowledge about Åland art, stimulating artistic The artwork is one of the most popular pieces in the activities and increasing the general interest in the museum collection. The painting mediates a medita- subject fi eld are some of the core operations of the 4 tive force that captures the onlooker, enticing him or museum. her to return to it. Painted in oil on panel between 1973 and 1975, the work measures 103 x 120 cm. The artwork is part of an extended series of around 400 paintings, the last of which is named “Sea of Oblivion”. Source: www.museum.ax/museum/konstmuseum.pbs ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 13

305 • ÅLAND ART MUSEUM 50 YEARS

The Åland Art Museum DATE OF ISSUE logotype forms the fi rst day 15 January 2013 cancel. ARTIST Guy Frisk EDITION 180 000 DENOMINATION Världen (€1.00) PRICE FDC €1.60 SIZE OF STAMP 36.25 x 31.5 mm SIZE OF SHEET 2 x 15 stamps PERFORATION 13 per 2 cm PAPER 102 g/m2 PRINTING METHOD 4-colour offset PRINTING HOUSE Joh. Enschedé Stamps

The Åland Art Museum is located in the Åland Museum which illustrates the fi rst day cover. Former town architect Folke Wickström, designer of the Architec- GUY FRISK tural nostalgia stamp booklet issued 23 August 2012, created the illustration. Painter and graphic artist Guy Frisk was born in 1934 in Loviisa, south-eastern Finland, and today lives in Lumparland, Åland. He studied at the University School of Arts & Design in Helsinki and moved to Åland in the 1960s. This very productive painter began his career as a surrealist artist with an abstract style, often in the form of collage or monotype. Character- ized by a relatively conventional watercolour technique, his early work was eventually followed by a great many technically accomplished pieces of work in the same technique. Employed as a drawing master at Ålands Lyceum (secondary school) for 17 years, he The gutter pair strip is decorated with the same illustration as the fi rst day cover. is now retired and devotes all his The Åland Art Museum logotype also appears twice. time to his art. This is Guy Frisk’s fi rst stamp for Åland Post. 14 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

306 • PASSENGER , S/S ÅLANDSFÄRJAN The fi rst day cancel shows DATE OF ISSUE the S/S Ålandsfärjan. 19 February 2013 ARTIST Håkan Sjöström EDITION 200 000 DENOMINATION Lokalpost (€0.75) PRICE FDC €1.35 SIZE OF STAMP 35.4 x 26 mm SIZE OF SHEET 2 x 20 stamps PAPER 110 g/m² PERFORATION 13 per 2 cm PRINTING METHOD 4-colour offset PRINTING HOUSE Cartor Security Printing

HÅKAN SJÖSTRÖM The fi rst day cover illustration depicts the S/S Bore I. Built in 1898 in Denmark, the ship was in service on the –Mariehamn–Stockholm route until 1916. Artist Håkan Sjöström (born in Having traffi cked another route for a few years, the ship reappeared on the 1933) is considered to be one of same route in 1919, however, now renamed Hebe. the foremost marine painters in Scandinavia today. Painting was an important part of Håkan’s youth. Upon completing his Bach- elor of Science degree (Econ.), he started working at a shipyard in Turku, where he remained until retirement. Alongside his work, he also painted the shipyard’s newbuildings. Håkan has also had commissions for several shipping companies, including , as well as a few seascape commissions. In addi- tion, he has illustrated magazines and books. This is Håkan’s ninth stamp for Åland Post. The ship decorating the gutter pair strip is the same as that on the stamp. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 15

/ Ålandsfärjan

any Ålanders associate the name Ålandsfärjan with the ship servicing between ariehamn and apellskär 1987–2008. owever, the ship featured on the 2013 stamp is the very fi rst ferry named Ålandsfärjan.

Following a disagreement between the founders was situated in the northern wing of the Societets- of Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen, the shipping company huset (featured in the Architectural nostalgia stamp that pioneered passenger traffi c between Åland and booklet issued on 23 August 2012). Sweden in 1959, a group of owners started the com- peting shipping company Rederi Ab Ålandsfärjan. JOINT MARKETING The competition for passengers was tough so, in CHANNEL FERRY BRITTANY 1966, Rederi Ab Ålandsfärjan, Rederi Ab Viking- S/S Ålandsfärjan was built in Scotland in 1933 and linjen and Rederi Ab Slite joined forces and named S/S Brittany. Ålandsfärjan was the fi rst ferry founded marketing company Viking Line. The in service for the newly started company. Opera- three companies had already adopted the same tions between Roslagen on the Swedish coast and ticket prices and they now began distributing a Mariehamn in Åland began on 20 June 1963. The joint timetable with prices for one-way and return ferry was originally owned by the British Railways tickets and various motor vehicle categories. The and in service on the British Channel. company also discussed joint PR and marketing, joint booking stations in Helsinki and Mariehamn, OWN PROPER PORT interchangeable tickets and staff coordination in Initially, Gräddö was her Swedish home port. As of Kapellskär. 1964, she began to call at Kapellskär but, due to the dispute, the existing berth could not be used so the SCRAPPED IN 1972 company had to build its own port nearby. S/S Ålandsfärjan was withdrawn from service in Marketing and sales were organized from the 1972 and demolished in Teijo, Finland, after having Mariehamn offi ce of Rederi Ab Ålandsfärjan, which run aground and been damaged. 4 16 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

Mini mouse €12.50 The Post supports Pink Ribbon

n 2012, Åland ost supports the ink ibbon awareness campaign, raising funds for the Åland ancer ociety.  ink ibbon

Beanie €11.50 stamp was issued in ctober.

iPhone case €8.30 The stamp was presented in an article in the previ- ous edition of Ålandsposten frimärken. Illustrated below is the fi rst day cover which was not included.

PINK PRODUCTS FOR SALE In addition to the stamp issue, we arranged a special cancellation on 6 October, and a number of other activities were arranged in Åland during the autumn season. A variety of Pink Ribbon products can be Cooler bag €13.30 purchased at the post offi ces and in the Post’s web shop at www.posten.ax. The products are either pink or white and all have the pink ribbon logo. The profi t from the sale of these products will be donated to the Åland Cancer Society. 4

T-shirt €15.50 ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 17

WOODEN DUCK DECOYS, LONG-TAILED DUCK

DATE 19 February 2013 ARTIST Juha Pykäläinen DENOMINATION OF SERIES €0.75, 0.80, 0.95 and 1.00 PRICE FDC €4.10 Long-tailed Duck decoys SIZE 40.00 x 30.34 mm PAPER he issue of a 3-part series of franking labels featuring old Fluorescens, 100 g/m2 PRINTING METHOD style wooden duck decoys began in 2012. irst out was the 5-colour offset     PRINTING HOUSE ommon ider; the 2013 motif is the ong-tailed uck. The Lowe Martin Group

Wildfowl decoys are lifelike dummies used by hunters to encourage birds to land nearby. The oldest decoys were made from plants such as bulrush, and the fi rst decoys carved from wood were unpainted. Decoys are now mostly made from plastic.

LONG-TAILED DUCK Long-tailed Ducks have a length of between 39 and 47 cm and can JUHA PYKÄLÄINEN weigh up to almost one kilo. They have a rounded head and a short Artist Juha Pykäläinen was born sturdy bill. The all-dark wings are quite sharp and pointed. Their 1953 in Tampere, Finland, but now lives in Sund, Åland. He is a fl ight is smooth and rapid, with a characteristic wing-beat dipping low versatile artist, who enjoys work- below the horizontal. 4 ing in many different techniques such as watercolour, gouache Source: http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alf%C3%A5gel and oil. He has also created sculptures, etchings and graphic art. So far, Juha has designed 16 stamps for the Åland Post as well as many other philatelic products, some of which are the 1994 and 2007 exhibition cards and the Juha Pykäläinen has illustrated hunters waiting in a duck blind on the 2006 Christmas seals. FDC. The maximum card shows two Long-tailed Ducks. 18 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

“I“I usedused toto slavishlyslavishly copycopy thethe animals,animals, butbut I’mI’m pleasedpleased thatthat II havehave todaytoday beenbeen ableable toto liberateliberate myselfmyself andand workwork moremore accord-accord- inging toto mymy imagination,imagination, althoughalthough II dodo fifi ndnd itit importantimportant thatthat thethe animalsanimals areare lifelike”,lifelike”, BoBo says.says. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 19 LOONS & GREBES

From robins to elephants

aptured by zoological painting early in his career, o undwall has continued this line of work for one simple reason: “I’ve always been interested in animals.”

Having graduated from secondary school in Små- the anatomy and the expressions of the animal to land, Bo attended the Skåne Art School in Malmö achieve a result as lifelike as possible. for one year before moving to Stockholm to study “Starting on the stamps, I already had material at the Anders Beckman School for 3 years. Having for all of the birds except the Red-throated Loon. I fi rst worked for the studio and news programs of could, therefore, begin to paint the other three birds Swedish Radio, Bo’s next employment was with a immediately, whereas I had to wait until mid-May studio located in Stockholm where he worked with before I could go to Hällefors (in the central part of design and illustration for approximately ten years. Sweden) to study the Red-throated Loon.” “I received many zoological commissions already Bo’s work is always based on a large number of then and my interest simply increased,” Bo explains. photos and he also sketches a lot. He has worked full time as an artist since 1989. “When I’m ready to start painting, I adapt the He receives many commissions from businesses and motifs as compared to the photographs. I have private collectors alike but also spends a great deal of never actually seen my illustrations and I believe time painting for exhibitions and galleries. In the past, it is important to partly let go of reality. I used to he has illustrated quite a few books, one of which is be more slavishly bound to mirror exactly what I “Scandinavian Mammals” (Däggdjuren i Norden). had seen, but it feels good to be able to free myself “I worked with the illustrations for that book for and work more according to my imagination, even 2 ½ years and travelled quite a lot in Denmark and though I do fi nd it important that the animals are Finland to gather material in that connection.” featured in a lifelike manner.”

SKETCHES A GREAT DEAL OUT IN THE WORLD The gathering of material is essential when Bo Bo has designed Swedish wildlife stamps previously. paints animals; the object is to check the colouring, One series was issued in 1993 and another in 1996. 20 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, and he has participated in the exhibition Birds in Art at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin o now wishes to go global. on several occasions. His paintings have also been included a number of times in the publication e has already established “Artists for Conservation”, published in Canada. several contacts in the SA

AFRICAN MOTIFS IN USA Bo wants to work more with African motifs in the future, motifs which, he has noticed, attract the Painting a stamp motif is not much different American market. from painting a larger motif. “There certainly are customers in Scandinavia for “At the studio for design and illustrations I African motifs but, in general, we tend to be more worked with printed matter and acquired know- conservative and want to see elks and robins on ledge of different types of printing techniques. So, I paintings; however, the interest in African motifs is know what works in a small format and what I must considerable in both the UK and the USA.” consider.” He does not have a favourite animal motif but Having freelanced on his home ground for a claims to be omnivore in that respect. number of years, Bo is now set on going global “I enjoy any motif - from elephants to lions to and he has already established several contacts in tiny robins.” the USA. His paintings have been exhibited at the And he does prefer to be given a free hand – it usually generates the best result. He dreams of publishing his own book presenting his unbiased selection of motifs without being bound to a text, as has been the case in his previous book projects. So far, he has discussed his dream project with the authors with whom he cooperated in connection with the book “Scandinavian Mammals”. The next step is to get a publisher interested in the idea.

GICLÉE IS A NEW METHOD Bo’s media consist of watercolours and oils for larger paintings. He also works in Giclée, a method applied in the USA for some 20 years, but relatively new in Sweden. Giclée is a graphic technique apply- ing to fi ne art prints created on inkjet printers. “The Giclée prints turn out terribly fi ne! So far, Nordic painters as well as the public have tended to be somewhat sceptical, but the interest is now increasing and the results are excellent”, Bo claims.

Bo spends a great deal of time in nature, photographing and sketching as basis for his illustrations. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 21

308 • LOONS & GREBES

DATE OF ISSUE 5 April 2013 ARTIST Bo Lundwall EDITION 95 000 booklets DENOMINATION Europa (8 x €0.95) PRICE FDC €4.40 SIZE OF STAMPS 35 x 26.56 mm SIZE OF BOOKLET 181 x 62.5 mm TheThe ffourour stamps depict the Black-throated Loon (top leleft),ft), the PAPER Red-throatedRed-throated Loon (top right), the Horned Grebe (bottom leleft)ft) and 98 g/m² the Great Crested Grebe (bottom right).right). PERFORATION 13 per 2 cm PRINTING METHOD 4-colour offset PRINTING HOUSE Posten Sverige

TheThe boobookletklet cocoverver feafeaturestures twtwoo BlBlack-throatedack-throated BO LUNDWALL Loons. The fi rst day cancel is a Red-throated Loon. Artist Bo Lundwall (born in1953) attended the Skåne Art School in Malmö, and the Anders Beckman School in Stockholm. Since 1989, he has devoted all his time to zoological painting, and he has had many commissions from businesses, private individuals and galleries. Bo has published many books and designed two stamp series for the Swedish Post. His list of exhibitions includes exhibitions in the Nordic coun- tries as well in the USA, and his paintings have been sold in Christie’s Wildlife Art auction in London. This is Bo’s fi rst stamp for Åland Post. You can view more of his illustrations at The fi rst day cover shows a swimming Horned Grebe. www.bolundwall.com. 22 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

Basically, Bo paints only zoological motifs. During his active years as a painter, he has painted a great deal of animals so very lifelike that they resemble photographs.

Bo also uses the traditional lithograph process in 2001. WWF stamps have been issued since 1982 as a medium. In both techniques, he numbers and and form the largest thematic stamp collection in signs the entire edition and the work is printed in the world. WWF stamps always feature endangered light-fast colours on graphic paper. species. Part of the stamp issue is sold in the form of thematic packs, and part of the profi t is donated WWF STAMPS to WWF to assist them in preserving endangered This is the third time Åland Post issues WWF species. 4 stamps (World Wildlife Fund). Two WWF booklets have been issued previously, one presenting Eagle Source: ”Fåglar i Norden” by Matsåke Bergström and Carl- Owls in 1996 and another featuring Steller’s Eiders Fredrik Lundevall.

BLACK-THROATED LOON GREAT CRESTED GREBE The Black-throated Loon is 60 to 70 cm in length with a The Great Crested Grebe is 45 to 50 cm in length with 110 to 130 cm wingspan. It is easily distinguished by a a 85 to 90 cm wingspan. These birds are easily distin- grey head and a chequered black-and-white mantle. guished from other water birds by their elaborate black and reddish brown wide cheek tufts. RED-THROATED LOON The Red-throated Loon is 50 to 70 cm in length with a HORNED GREBE 105 to 115 cm wingspan. Its bill is thin and often held The Horned Grebe is 30 to 40 cm in length with a 60 to 65 pointing slightly upwards. The adult bird has a dark grey cm wingspan. It is unmistakable with its distinctive bright head and an all-dark grey-brown mantle. orange earlike tufts, black cheeks and red neck. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 23

CHRISTMAS SEALS 2012

DATE OF ISSUE Christmas seals help 9 October 2012 ARTIST ery year, Åland ost issues hristmas seals that may be Minna L. Immonen EDITION used as decoration on hristmas cards and parcels. his year’s 8 000 sheets of 20 self-adhesive seals hristmas seals match the hristmas stamp perfectly, since PRICE € they were designed by the same artist – inna . mmonen. 3.70 SIZE OF SEALS 23 x 26 mm SIZE OF SHEET A sheet of Christmas seals holds 20 seals of four different motifs. 210 x 146 mm This year’s motifs are classic Christmas symbols such as pixies, PAPER Bullfi nches and a Christmas lantern. 80 g/m² PRINTING METHOD 4-colour offset FUNDS FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER PRINTING HOUSE The profi t from the sale of the Post’s Christmas seals is donated to Arkmedia charity every year. This year’s benefi ciary is the Children’s and Family Cancer Fund of the Åland Cancer Society. The Children’s and Family Cancer Fund provides fi nancial support to children with cancer and their families. Financial assistance is offered to facilitate the children’s hospitalization and to ease the situation for the families of children with cancer. Financial support may also be given in cases where an adult member of the family has cancer to contribute to a positive experience, such as a journey, for the entire family. 4

MINNA L. IMMONEN

Artist Minna L. Immonen (born in 1964) from Oulunsalo quali- fi ed as a graphic designer in Rovaniemi, northern Finland, and has attended classes at independent art schools in Lapland and Liminka (Finland). She now runs her own company Minna-Kortti that publishes cards, calendars and paintings. Minna has also designed Chinaware for Arabia of Finland, including a children’s series with teddy bears and Christmas mugs and jars with traditional Christmas designs. In 2008, she designed the cover of a Fazer’s chocolate box, and she has also illustrated a number of books. In addition to the Christmas seals, Minna This year’s Christmas seals have Christmassy motifs by artist is the artist behind this year’s Minna L. Immonen, who also created the 2012 Christmas stamp. Christmas stamp. 24 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

Postal Stationery cards, 2012 First Day Covers Christmas, 9 Oct. 2012 The Man at the Wheel, 26 April 2012 Architectural nostalgia (booklet), 23 August 2012 Wooden duck decoys, Wooden Eider (postal labels), 1 February 2012 Buses, Buses, 19 September 2012 Europa – Visit Åland, Europa – Visit Åland, 9 May 2012 Passenger ferries, ferries, Passenger 1 February 2012 (mini-sheet), Nordic – Life at Sea (miniature sheet), 21 March 2012 My Stamps, Åland, 4 June 2012 Pink Ribbon, Pink Ribbon, 1 October 2012 ies, 4 June 2012 Titanic 100 years, Titanic 100 years, 16 April 2012 Dragonfl Christmas 2012, 9 October 2012

This year’s set of Åland fi rst day covers is now as well as this year’s postal stationery cards by available. Included in the set is the FDC with Alexander Lindén. The 2012 FDC Year Set has the postal labels featuring wooden duck decoys been available since 9 October and costs €36. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 25

2012 Beijing International Stamp & Coin Expo, Beijing, 2012 Exhibition Cards 2–4 November 2012 ngen, Tavastex 2012, Hämeenlinna, 2012, Hämeenlinna, Tavastex 27–29 April 2012 Stamps in Svedala, 8–9 September 2012 Huddex 2012 and Frimung 2012, 2012 and Frimung Huddex Huddinge, 3–4 March 2012 Int. Briefmarken–Börse, Sindelfi 25–27 October 2012 Nordpost, Hamburg, 28–30 September 2012 Nordia 2012, Roskilde, 2–4 November 2012 Turun Kevät 2012, Turku, 2012, Turku, Kevät Turun 10–11 March 2012 Die Liba 2012, Schaan, 16–19 August 2012 Int. Briefmarkenmesse, Essen, Int. Briefmarkenmesse, Essen, 12–14 April 2012 Stockholm, dag, Frimärkets 10 November 2012 Helsinki,Frimärksmässa, 27–28 October 2012 Salon d’automne, Paris, 8–11 November 2012

The 2012 pack of exhibition cards is for sale as Åland exhibition cards are issued with a specially of 10 November. The coat of arms of the city in designed exhibition stamp and cancelled with the question is featured on each of the 2012 exhibition relevant exhibition cancel. The 2012 pack costs cards except for the Beijing card, which features €24.70. Available on the same day at the price of the 2012 year of the Dragon. Artist Jonas Wilén €104 is the 2012 Exhibition Stamp Pack holding all designed the cards. 13 mini-sheets of exhibition stamps. 26 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

2012 Special Cancellations

30.3 Åland Peace 4.6 Dragonfl ies 9.6 Åland Autonomy 90 years Institute 20 years (maximum cards)

16.6 Postal Boat Race 23.8 Architectural nostalgia 6.10 Folk Dancers in Åland (maximum cards) 90 years

6.10 Pink Ribbon Gala 9.10 Stamp day 9.11 Åland Dementia Association 20 years

We focus on a number of Åland events every year Available as of 9 November, the 2012 pack of by issuing a special cancel. All the special cancel- covers franked with Åland stamps and cancelled lations of the year are gathered in a pack released with the special cancels costs €15.50. at the end of the year. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 27 2013 issues CALENDAR

15 January Åland Art Museum 50 years 1 stamp, 1 postcard 19 February Wooden duck decoys, Postal label (Frama), 1 maximum card Long-tailed Duck 19 February Passenger ferries 1 stamp, 1 postcard 5 April Loons & grebes (WWF) Booklet of 8 stamps, 4 different motifs, 4 postcards 5 April Postal stationery, spring 3 postal stationery cards 6 May My Stamps, Åland cheese Mini-sheet of 8 x 1 motif, 1 postcard 6 May Europa – Postal vehicles 1 stamp, 1 postcard 4 June Water lilies, white and yellow 2 stamps, 2 maximum cards July Music festivals 2 stamps, 2 postcards 5 August Passenger ferries 1 stamp, 1 postcard 20 August Sepac – Peacock butterfl y 1 stamp, 1 maximum card 2 September Blue Ribbon 1 stamp, 1 postcard 9 October Christmas 1 stamp, 1 postcard

9 October Christmas seals Sheet of 20 self-adhesive seals

Deliveries and deadlines (NOTE! PRELIMINARY TIMES OF DELIVERY)

DELIVERY DEADLINE SUBS. NUMBER CHANGES DELIVERY CONTENTS 1-2013 28 February April Åland Art Museum 50 years, postal labels, Passenger ferries, Loons & grebes (booklet), 1 maximum card, 6 postcards, 3 postal stationery cards 2-2013 25 April June My Stamps (mini-sheet), Europa – Postal vehicles, Water lilies – white and yellow, 2 maximum cards, 2 postcards 3-2013 5 September October Music festivals, Passenger ferries, Sepac – Peacock butterfl y, Blue Ribbon, Christmas, 1 maximum card, 5 postcards 4-2013 24 October November Year sets, packs, year pages, Christmas seals and decorations etc.

Other subscription deliveries (NOTE! PRELIMINARY TIMES OF DELIVERY)

PRODUCT DELIVERY PRODUCT DELIVERY Model car no. 27 April SEPAC folder September 2013 euro coin set April Model car no. 28 October Passenger ferries, collector’s sheets August Åland Year Book 2012–2013 October Stamp watch no. 12 August 28 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN

CALENDAR HÄMEENLINNA TAVASTEX 2012

SINDELFINGEN INT. BRIEFMARKENBÖRSE 2012

2013 Exhibitions In 2013, Åland Post takes part in the stamp exhibitions listed below. Additions or alterations are likely to be made. A complete and updated list of exhibitions will be available at www.posten.ax.

INT. BRIEFMARKEBÖRSE FRIMYNT NORDIA 2013 München, Germany Helsingborg, Sweden Gardabær, Iceland 28 February – 2 March 27 April 7–9 June

SAVOFILA INT. BRIEFMARKENMESSE STAMPS IN SVEDALA Kuopio, Finland Essen, Germany Svedala, Sweden 8–10 March 2–4 May 7–8 September

TURUN KEVÄT FRIMÄRKETS DAG INT. BRIEFMARKENBÖRSE Turku, Finland, Stockholm, Sweden Sindelfi ngen, Germany, 9–10 March Date not set 24–26 October

An exhibition card, cancellation and stamp will be available at all the above exhibitions. The 2013 theme is postal vehicles. Artist is Staffan Nylander.

2013 Special cancellations So far, the following 2013 events have been issued with special cancellations:

19.2 WOODEN DUCK DECOYS (MAXIMUM CARD) OCTOBER PINK/BLUE RIBBON GALA

4.6 WATERLILIES (MAXIMUM CARDS) 9.10 STAMP DAY

15.6 POSTAL BOAT RACE DATE NOT SET ÅLAND POST 20 YEARS

20.8 PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (MAXIMUM CARD)

Additions to the above list will be made and will be listed in the next edition of this magazine. An updated list can be viewed at www.posten.ax, where you can also see illustrations of the special cancellations.

Holiday closing Åland Post Stamps will be closed on the following public holidays:

FINLAND’S INDEPENDENCE DAY CHRISTMAS NEW YEAR’S DAY GOOD FRIDAY EASTER MONDAY 6 December 24–26 December 1 January 29 March 1 April

Next magazine The next edition of Ålandsposten Frimärken will be posted in April 2013.